Developing English Writing Skills in Children

Developing Writing Skills in English

Handwriting

When teaching children to write in English, consider these factors:

• Age
• Familiarity with Roman script

During writing practice, children must focus on several aspects:

• Developing finger control and neatness
• Forming letters correctly
• Understanding sound-spelling relationships in English
• Using capital letters and punctuation appropriately

Using Computers

With the prevalence of computers, children should also learn:

• Proper typing techniques, using all fingers and maintaining good posture
• Common English expressions related to computer and email use

Practicing the Alphabet

For writing and spelling, children need to know letter names and alphabetical order.

Writing the Alphabet

Practice letter shapes through activities like:

• Encouraging children to write their names or initials on artwork
• Engaging in "palm-writing" and "back-writing" exercises

From Speaking and Reading to Writing

Incorporate various writing activities, including memory games, quizzes (speaking to writing), and list-making (reading to writing).

A Questioning Game

Have each child secretly write down a visible classroom word. The class then plays a guessing game, asking questions verbally or in writing.

Collaborative Writing

Beyond individual words and sentences, children need practice writing longer pieces, such as short stories. Use a familiar story as a basis for collaborative writing:

• Children recall the story in their native language.
• With teacher guidance, they write down their recollections.
• They create drawings to illustrate the story's events.

This fosters cooperation and mutual support.

Free Writing

Encourage individual creative writing, where children express themselves freely. Prioritize communication and praise effort, accepting that mistakes are part of the learning process.

Writing to Penpals

Connecting with penpals offers a practical application of English skills. Children enjoy learning about others, and writing to penpals worldwide (not just native English speakers) demonstrates the value of language learning and exposes them to different cultures and perspectives.

Other Activities

Consider additional activities like creating books and engaging in role-playing.